The Birthday Series – Bon Cop Bad Cop (2006)
You know the score by now. I’m counting down to my birthday by reviewing one movie that was released on or around August 2nd for every year of my life. Today I give you 2006.
This is not going to be a really in-depth review because Koutch reviewed this film quite accurately not long ago. But seeing as this was released on August 4th (in Canada) I decided it was a good enough excuse to watch the movie, and now I am obliged to give it a review.
David Brouchard (Patrick Huard) is a rule-breaking detective from Quebec and Martin Ward (Colm Feore) is the by the book detective from Ontario, who is waiting for a comfy, safe desk job. When a body is found that lies across the Ontario/Quebec border, the respective police departments decide that a little working together would be beneficial for public relations. The body in question leads the two men onto a serial murderer who is targeting the movers and shakers in the Hockey League, who are planning on selling the Quebec team to Texas. David and Martin must get over their differences in personality and approach to work together to track down the killer.
As Koutch pointed out, this movie is far from original. You could choose any buddy cop action movie from the past twenty or so years and these characters are the same. But what makes this a little unique is the use of language, and a look at the relationship of English and French speaking Canadians. I’ve not seen many Canadian films. I can’t think of one off the top of my head, so this aspect of the film pretty much made it for me. The story is utter stupidity, but the relationship of the two cops is interesting. The fact that it changes from English to French and back again so quickly, sometimes in the same sentence, made it difficult to keep up, so I paid a little closer attention than I may have if it was all in English.
Colm Feore we’ve seen many times before. He’s always a solid actor, usually playing a shifty government bureaucrat, but here is the first time I’ve seen him as a lead, and he’s good. The development of his relationship with Brouchard is well handled, as it goes through all the usual phases. You know how it goes. Distrust and dislike, then begrudging respect, and finally bosom buddies. Ward is the straight man, and with less interesting problems than Brouchard. He’s a single father who doesn’t relate well with his teenage son. There’s not much more to his character development than that, but Feore is a quality actor and makes the most of a thinly drawn character.
I’ve not seen Patrick Huard before, but here he’s a likeable screen presence. His character is quite interesting (compared to Ward, who is much more standard). Brouchard lives in an adjoining apartment above the apartment of his ex-wife and daughter. It’s quite an unusual situation and it gives the character a really interesting shade of grey. He’s not a bad guy, and he obviously loves his daughter and ex-wife, but he is obviously a flawed person and his wife must have simply had enough. The fact that they remain close is unique in this type of film. Usually for a character such as this its a dead wife, or the ex-wife is an insufferable bitch who takes “the ice cube trays out of the freezer” when she moves out. 100 internets for the person that gets that reference. I also really liked the scene at his daughters ballet recital. This scene showed the love he has for his daughter. Above all Brouchard is a good guy, but not a good husband.
The film is well directed by Eric Canuel. The action is nicely staged, and I enjoyed the gag involving the mascot. I wasn’t that impressed with the way the details of the story were developed however, and the killer, particularly his motivation was pretty weak. I did enjoy his denouement though. I also enjoyed learning the meaning of the French word ‘tabarnac’. Might be useful next time I go to Paris.
‘Bon Cop, Bad Cop’ is a solid entry into the buddy cop genre, and well worth checking out if you get the chance.
Merci for coming to my 2006 anniversaire. Now tabarnac off.
For Droids a jolly good fellow!
I like Feore, if you remember the Insider, he plays a Mississippi DA, he’s really solid in a limited role.
YYYYEEEEEEEYYYYY!!!! Glad you liked it, this movie is just a ton of fun.
I liked the Mascot scene as well, but at the same time I bet I will be able to hear Conti’s eye’s rolling if he ever watches this.
Great movie.
COLM!
That would be fucking hilarious if the Quebec team was sold to Texas. I just may watch this now, solely based on that being part of the premise.
Droid, you have the same birthday as my grandma.
No. Your Grandma has the same birthday as me!
hehe
But seriously, only the most awesome people are born on August 2nd.
Peter O’Toole, Carroll O’Connor, Elisha Grey who quite likely invented the telephone (Alexander Graham Bell died on August 2nd… take that Bell you glory hogging bastard!), Jack Warner, Myrna Loy, Blitz’s grandma, Droid… to name but a few legends.
And 10 years ago I would’ve claimed Kevin Smith. Not so much now.
Thing is, as a Canadian, I hope this movie opens up some kind of Canuck Action Movie portal which has never existed in any form whatsoever.
The box office for this film up here proves it’s profitability.
One big reason why Canada doesn’t make Canadian action films is that all their locations and crew are used by American films.
True enough. Must be tax breaks or some shit, our dollar is pretty much on par with the U.S.
I like Colm Feore, good actor.
Made a note of this movie when Boom mentioned it. I’ll get to it one day…